Happy Tree Friends -- Ski Ya Wouldn't Wanna Be Ya

Happy Tree Friends -- Ski Ya Wouldn't Wanna Be Ya
Happy Tree Friends

Flaky enjoys the rush of the slopes. Like some of the others on the list, the list wouldn't be complete without mentioning Mondo Media's Happy Tree Friends. As the first real brand to be developed on the Web, 2006 marked the debut of the franchise on TV. With expanded running times, the recent shorts, like Ski Ya Wouldn't Wanna Be Ya, have grown narratively allowing time to build tension before the blood and guts explode. The cute designs and unabashed violence tap into fans sadistic sides, but now the series has room for some nice character moments.

It's JerryTime -- The Brute

It's JerryTime -- The Brute
It's JerryTime

Jerry comes up with a bitter revenge plot against a muscle-head hockey player after the brute continually drinks out of Jerry's water bottle. The Internet winner at Ottawa uses an exaggerated cutout style, which is part of the fun of the series. Solid writing is brought to life by strongly defined characters, great voice work and well-timed, simple acting. This is a great example of good storytelling serving as the foundation for success.

Kiwi!

Kiwi!
Dony Permedi

A determined small bird goes to extreme extents to experience his dream. Produced at the School of Visual Arts, this CG short proves that great animation will outshine a slick look anytime. Dony Permedi's bittersweet short also shows how a great student film plus YouTube can provide a fledgling animator a profound calling card. By picking a simple, yet effective, CG design style, Permedi gave himself time to showoff his skills at creating a compelling, expressive character.

Low Morale -- Episode 9 -- Fish Meh

Low Morale -- Episode 9 -- Fish Meh
Monkeehub

Near passing out during a boring meeting, an office worker jumps off the deep end. Creator Laith Bahrani is another one-man show on the Net, creating a Web series of sardonic looks at the soul-sucking nature of office work. A dark twist on Dilbert-like situations, Low Morale is a droll hit that has gathered 800,000 unique visitors since 2004. It's unique look and witty stories have gained a fan base that returns for the on-going series.